SB-345 Law enforcement agencies: public records.(2017-2018)

SECTION 1.

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) Law enforcement agencies, including the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training and local law enforcement agencies, establish standards of physical, mental, and moral fitness for peace officers, develop and implement programs to increase the effectiveness of law enforcement by peace officers, and provide ongoing education and training for peace officers.

(b) Law enforcement agencies have numerous sets of regulations, including, but not limited to, educational materials, manuals, policies, practices, and procedures, that guide employees in their duties. Regulations should be based on best policing policies and practices, current legal standards, and community safety needs.

(c) Currently, across California and the country, many local law enforcement agencies conspicuously post their training, policies, practices, and operating procedures on their Internet Web sites.

(d) Making regulations of law enforcement agencies easily accessible to the public helps educate the public about law enforcement policies, practices, and procedures, increases communication and community trust, and enhances transparency, while saving costs and labor associated with responding to individual requests for this information.

SEC. 2.

Title 4.7 (commencing with Section 13650) is added to Part 4 of the Penal Code, to read:

TITLE 4.7. Law Enforcement Agency Regulations

13650.

Commencing January 1, 2019, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Justice, the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, and each local law enforcement agency shall conspicuously post on their Internet Web sites all current standards, policies, practices, operating procedures, and education and training materials that would otherwise be available to the public if a request was made pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code).

SEC. 3.

If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.